BREAKING NEWS

Bank robbed with fake explosive device

MARTINSBURG – Police in Berkeley County are searching for a suspect who robbed a bank Wednesday morning, informing a bank teller that his gym bag contained an explosive device.

According a release issued by Berkeley County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael St. Clair, deputies responded to the Bank of Charles Town on Tuscarora Pike in Martinsburg at about 9:07 a.m. for a report of a robbery that had just occurred.

As deputies were responding, they were told that the suspect left a small gym bag on the counter inside the bank that supposedly contained an “explosive device” and the bank was evacuated, police said.

St. Clair, who is leading the investigation, described the suspect as a black male, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing about 190 pounds. The suspect was wearing a “hi-visible” yellow work coat with the letters “CTS” printed on the back. He was also wearing dark blue work pants and a “grayish black” beanie, police said.

Police say the man walked into the bank as if he was confused. The bank manager noticed approached the subject and asked him if he needed any assistance, police said.

The suspect declined the assistance before walking over to the teller and placing the gym bag on the counter. The suspect then passed the teller a note that stated “this is a robbery,” police said.

The note stated that the suspect demanded money and that if anything went wrong, he would detonate the bag, police said.

The teller complied with the suspect’s demands, and he fled the area with an undisclosed amount of cash. Sgt. L.A. Faircloth with the West Virginia State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team assisted with checking the bag and discovered it contained boots and tools, police said.

If anyone has any information about this crime or the suspect’s identity, contact St. Clair at 304-267-7000 or the Berkeley County Crime Solvers hotline at 304-267-4999.